Zeke -- what's the origin of this nickname? - Detroit Pistons Fan Community

1989 · #1 (**permalink**) 11-18-2005, 07:31 AM

I've always wondered about this. When, where and why did Isiah pick up this moniker?

BillLaimbeer · #2 (**permalink**) 11-18-2005, 10:38 AM

A few web sites say Kevin McHale made up the nickname. He couldn't pronounce Isiah so he just called him Zeke. I'm not sure if this is true or not.

Darth Tater · #3 (**permalink**) 11-18-2005, 11:03 AM

I guess the Celtics were the ones in charge of nicknaming the Pistons because Ainge ,of course, dubbed "Vinnie the Microwave".

I never heard the Kevin McHale thing though. I always just assumed that "Isiah" was a book(or something) in the bible as was "Ezekiel" so someone just started calling him that. lol.

Hey, have the new guys "earned" their nicks from Sheed yet??

DReDD · #4 (**permalink**) 11-18-2005, 12:32 PM

I believe I saw in a made for tv movie about him that it was his mother that gave him the nickname, not sure tho

MotownPride · #5 (**permalink**) 11-18-2005, 12:34 PM

I have an ESPN Classic about him on TIVO. I'll review it this evening and see if it says anything.

G-man · #6 (**permalink**) 11-18-2005, 01:58 PM

The little dishmeister picked up the "Zeke" handle from a Hoosier team mate at Indiana University. The "word" is at the time he was streaking thru the BIG 10, a song called “Zeke the Freak” was fresh off the charts..

It was a Isaac Hayes song from the album "Best of Isaac Hayes, 77-81" The Polydor Years. You can hear a sample cut below....

http://www.artistdirect.com/nad/stor...243924,00.html

MotownPride · #7 (**permalink**) 11-18-2005, 02:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by G-man

The little dishmeister picked up the "Zeke" handle from a Hoosier team mate at Indiana University. The "word" is at the time he was streaking thru the BIG 10, a song called “Zeke the Freak” was fresh off the charts..

It was a Isaac Hayes song from the album "Best of Isaac Hayes, 77-81" The Polydor Years. You can hear a sample cut below....

http://www.artistdirect.com/nad/stor...243924,00.html

mystery solved. good lookin' out G-man!

BillLaimbeer · #8 (**permalink**) 11-18-2005, 03:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MotownPride

mystery solved.

I think G-Man made that story up.

OLD SKOOL HQ · #9 (**permalink**) 11-18-2005, 03:59 PM

Just kidn....Zeke got his name on the south side of Chicago and If you had a church goinMom like Isiah and (God Bless her heart) wasnt well educated(Anfernee Haraway is spelled that way because his grandma raised and named him and couldnt pronounce or spell Anthony)you get a lot of churchee-type mispellings (hence Isaih instead of Isaiah) so his brother "Lord " Thomas III started teasing him with "Zeekeil" in mockery of "Ezekiel" and that got round to teamate Landon Turner and Jim Thomas , and friend Mark Aquirre,who also teasingly called him Zeke. They then met Magic Johnson at the final four(DePaul was in too, remember)and all became friends and the Zeke moniker spread.....TADA!...my bruddahs!

MotownPride · #10 (**permalink**) 11-18-2005, 07:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by G-man

The little dishmeister picked up the "Zeke" handle from a Hoosier team mate at Indiana University. The "word" is at the time he was streaking thru the BIG 10, a song called “Zeke the Freak” was fresh off the charts..

It was a Isaac Hayes song from the album "Best of Isaac Hayes, 77-81" The Polydor Years. You can hear a sample cut below....

http://www.artistdirect.com/nad/stor...243924,00.html

shame on you.

lmao!